msw1 - i've been using sudo steam is there another one i should use or can try? yes i have uninstalled & re-installed multiple times still get same result.i tried running it with terminal because when i try to run it using the icon nothing happens also when i click the [start steam beta] button after install nothing seems to happen either.

gutigen 0 - i used the client install through ubuntu software center from the link on steams site. also tried doing the manual install through terminal.

i'm not entirely sure on what you mean by other sudo commands? as in run other none steam related commands as sudo? yes i have run lots of other commands as sudo sense this error and had no problem. how would i go about fixing permissions?